Introducing another popular immersion brewing method: cafetiere coffee.

This simple brew style boasts bold flavours in each and every cup. Why? Coffee made in a cafetière retains more of the coffee grounds natural oils, which makes it a real winner in our eyes!

If this is your first time brewing cafetiere coffee, don’t worry - we’ve got you covered in our complete guide.

1. What is cafetiere coffee?
2. Is cafetiere the same as French press?
3. What you’ll need to get brewing
4. How to make cafetiere coffee
5. Cafetiere coffee FAQs

What is cafetiere coffee?

Cafetiere coffee is a type of coffee brewing method that uses a cafetière - a glass or plastic heat proof container.

A cafetière is shaped like a narrow beaker, which has a strainer attached to the lid.

This design allows you to plunge the strainer after the coffee brews, keeping the grounds at the base as you pour the coffee from the spout into your cup.

Is cafetiere the same as French press?

‘Cafetière’ is the French word for coffee pot, and this method of brewing is also referred to as French press.

The idea behind this brewing style is thought to date all the way back to the 1920s, when people in France used steel rods and cheesecloth screens to press coffee into cups and pots. 

However, despite having origins in France, the first French Press design similar to the one we know today was invented in Italy by Ugo Paolini.

He licensed his designs to Attilo Calimani and Giulio Moneta, who then patented the press in 1929.

What you'll need to get brewing:

• Kettle 
• Timer 
• Odd Kin’s speciality coffee (grind type: whole bean or French press)
• Cafetière
• Spoon
• Coffee scales / measuring scoop

How to make cafetiere coffee:

Using a cafetière to make coffee is an easy and low cost way of brewing.

Follow our Head Roaster’s 6 step cafetiere instructions to get started: 

Step 1: To start off, all you need to do is boil your kettle and then leave the water to rest for 30 seconds to 1 minute. It’s important to allow the water time to cool slightly to prevent your coffee grounds from burning. You might want to use a small amount of hot water to warm your cafetière depending on the material it’s made of.

Step 2: Grab your coffee and scale and measure out 30g of coffee. Cafetiere grind size should be medium to medium-coarse, a little coarser than a v60. 

Step 3: Carefully add your ground coffee into the cafetière, then pour the boiling water directly in afterwards. In terms of cafetiere coffee ratio, you’re looking for 60g of coffee per litre, so with 30g of coffee you’ll need 500g of water. 

Step 4: Allow the hot water and coffee to sit for 3 - 4 minutes, making sure the water soaks all the coffee grounds to avoid patches of dry coffee from forming.

Step 5: Use your spoon to stir gently, scooping out any remaining grounds or sediment that floats to the top of the cafetière.

Step 6: Allow to rest for a further 4 - 5 minutes. Then, push the plunger down to precisely the level of the liquid and no further. Now, all that’s left to do is decant your coffee into cups. Voila! Your coffee is served. 

Top Tip: We recommend using fresh, filtered water to allow for a fuller flavoured brew.

Cafetiere Coffee FAQs

What is the best cafetiere grind size?

The best cafetiere grind size is a medium to medium-coarse grind. Each coffee particle will be between 0.75 - 1 mm in size, with the same texture of rough sand.

We recommend grinding your coffee to order, as whole bean coffee keeps fresher for longer. This can be done with a hand grinder or electric coffee grinder, but if you don’t have one of these - don’t worry, we can do it for you!

All you have to do is choose which bag of Odd Kin’s speciality coffee you want, then choose the French Press grind type and add to cart.

💡 Top Tip: Keep your grinder in tip top condition with Cafetto's coffee grinder cleaning powder.

What coffee to water ratio is best for a cafetiere?  

When using a cafetiere, we recommend a coffee to water ratio of 1 to 16. This means that for every 30g of coffee you use you’ll need 500ml of boiling water.

What are the benefits of cafetiere coffee?

This fuss-free brewing method is hugely popular in the coffee community, and it’s not hard to see why! The benefits of brewing cafetiere coffee include:

• No paper filters are used - this means that more of the oils inside the coffee beans are able to get into the brew - resulting in great taste!
• A cost effective brewing method - With so many affordable cafetieres on the market, you can find one that suits your budget.
• Make multiple cups of coffee: Depending on the size of your cafetiere, you can brew up to 6 - 8 cups at once - great for hosting friends
• Reusable way to brew: You don’t have to worry about throwing away paper filters or coffee pods, simply clean your cafetiere after use.

How can I reduce sediment in French press coffee?

A pretty common complaint with cafetiere or French press coffee is about the sediment that can collect at the base of the cup, making for a muddy coffee.

This sediment comes from extra fine coffee particles which don’t dissolve - and as a result, taste gritty. To avoid this problem, we recommend: 

• Using a medium to medium-coarse coffee grind (which will make it more difficult for the grounds to be separated).
• Stir your coffee gently and move any sediment that floats to the stop (see step 5).
• Don’t rush the process, allowing your coffee to rest will give the grounds time to sink to the bottom of the press. 
• Plunge carefully and avoid plunging below the level of the liquid.

How do you clean a cafetiere?

A clean cafetiere is essential to making a delicious brew.

If you don’t take time to clean your press after use, leftover oils will build up which can also get stuck to the filter and affect the taste of future brews. 

To clean a French press, fill it to roughly halfway with water before using a strainer to pour the leftover grounds into the bin.

You can then refill the press with lukewarm water and soap, and use the plunger to pump the water up and down the press, deeply cleaning the sides.

How often should I wash my cafetiere?

For best care and coffee results, you should wash your cafetière after every use.  

Should I use filtered water for cafetiere coffee?

Yes, we always recommend using fresh, filtered water to improve the quality and taste of your coffee.

How? You can use a coffee water filter to optimise your water for home brews.